They say I think too much

Why are you being educated?

To disappoint all those readers who thought its a post by me – it is better than the general book review post. At least read the quoted part. 🙂

Why are you being educated?

By J Krishnamurti

Rating : 4/5( 1 point for reiterated parts in the later chapters)

It was my first peek into J. Krishnamurti’s philosophical ideas and thoughts.
(For those who want to know more about him or want to gain some insight from his work – check http://www.jkrishnamurti.org )
I found them really interesting and enlightening in the educational aspects. I have only read the education part after reading this book. I will later check the other areas also.

About the book – it is a collection of talks which J. krishnamurti gave in various Indian universities during 70s & 80s.
His chief concern is to awaken the students from the fact that the pursuit of knowledge does not liberate man from his fundamental ignorance of himself. While knowledge is indispensable, it also creates the illusion that we have the intelligence to meet the challenges of life, and this makes us neglect the vast and subtle field of the human psyche.

In my college time also, there were some leaders(thought leaders & political leaders) who gave speeches at seminar. The difference between their speeches & the speeches in this book is vast. It may be the time which has changed or may be the leaders who have drastically changed. Perhaps we as a society have forgotten and ignored such topics on human psyche. That was thought to be of vital importance just a few decades back.(Or may be I was not fortunate to listen to such speakers in college time)

To give you the idea about what is in this book, i will put some of its passages here:

Are you going to waste your life? passing some exam, getting a job, being trained to imitate. That is what you are being taught : to imitate, to conform, to fit into the pattern. And is that the end of life? Then you ask : ‘ What shall we do ? Is there something else ?’ To find something totally different from all this, you have to have a great deal of intelligence. Intelligence is not knowledge. Knowledge gives you capacity, position, status but knowledge is not love, knowledge is not compassion. It is only where there is love and compassion that there is intelligence, and that intelligence of thought. So are you wasting your life ? Nobody can answer that question except yourself. The purpose of life is what you want.

If everybody is second hand, who is first hand ?
( To find out first hand, don’t be second hand )

Is this knowledge, or is it total ignorance, when we cultivate information, when we learn from others what we are and how we should think & what we should think ?

And there are many more questions on which a student can mull on. Though, at present time, when I interact with my friends & family, they still have the same trepidation. Then I wonder should they have asked these questions to themselves by taking some time out of their race for knowledge.

I do ask similar questions from time to time. It keeps me grounded. I would like you also to reflect on them – so please pick up this book, if you can. Or you can check his site and read or listen his speeches from there.

J. Krishnamurthy is more known for his unique philosophical disposition. He is more “Buddha like”. His writing requires great deal of effort and concentration(especially philosophical ones) to be understood but the uniqueness of his thoughts and the blunt questions he asks completely destroys the illusions on which your life is based. Do read Krishnamurthy, it will be worth the time and effort!